A Bristol man has been jailed for more than five years for stabbing someone in the leg, and having cocaine and weapons in his house.

Despite sitting on more than £500,000 in compensation after being beaten up and suffering a brain injury, Craig Marchant still felt the need to get involved with Class A narcotics.

In January, the 35-year-old, of Landseer Avenue, Lockleaze, stabbed Matthew Crawford, severing an artery, at a mutual acquaintance’s house.

Prosecuting at Bristol Crown Court, Adam Vaitilingam said Marchant and his next-door neighbour Darren James, 35, both attacked Mr Crawford.

Marchant believed Mr Crawford had burgled his home, started punching him and also accused him of owing him money for cocaine, the court heard.

Witnesses said after the stabbing blood “sprayed everywhere” – on the coffee table, the sofa and the curtains in the front room.

And when James saw his friend fighting he joined in, punching Mr Crawford several times.

Mr Crawford had to have surgery to repair the damaged artery, caused by a 10cm deep wound below one of his knees. Surgeons fear he could have problems with the leg in later life.

The following day, January 9, police went to Marchant’s home and found 35g of cocaine, with a street value of about £1,400, clear plastic bags and £2,000 in cash. They also found two bottles of the cutting agent mannitol, weighing scales with cocaine traces on them, two knives and a stun gun. He had also fortified the front door and installed CCTV cameras, which he said were because he had been burgled in the past.

Although Marchant admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply, he said he had not been dealing and had only taken delivery of the drugs a day or two before the police came.

He also admitted grievous bodily harm without intent, as did James.

Mitigating for Marchant, Nicolas Gerasimidis said it was not a pre-meditated attack and Marchant had not taken a knife to the house intent on attacking someone.

He only realised Mr Crawford was there once he had arrived at the house in Lockleaze.

Mentioning the pay-out given to Marchant after his injuries in 1999 or 2000, Mr Gerasimidis said: “It’s a very odd scenario for him to be doing something like this.”

Mitigating for James, Julie Phillips said “misguided loyalty” led to him getting involved in the incident and helping one of his best friends.

Mr Recorder Ian Pringle QC said to Marchant: “I have no doubt at all that it was your intention to supply drugs to other people that you had in your possession.”

He sentenced him to a total of five years, three months in prison – 21 months for GBH, three and a half months for the drug offence and three months, to run concurrently, for possessing the stun gun. Mr Pringle imposed a one-year community order on James – who had already spent seven months in custody – and a four-month curfew.